Emmanuel reports
It was a colourful and delightful display of prowess as Murjanatu Alkali "Mjay", a 400L Sociology student of Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, successfully launched her book Today, Sunday 11th of November 2018 in Kaduna which she titled "From The Eyes of A Spinster" .
The Jos-based writer who is also the pioneer of ARARCAA (Abuse, rape and related cases awareness ambassadors), a nongovernmental Organisation, in an exclusive interview with PEN PRESS described her debut as an unusual story, a story like no other. Murjanatu said the increased in sexual assaults prompted her to pen down the book.
"From the eyes of a spinster is one of the books I've written that I hold dear to my heart.
You might wonder why I chose the themes I used in writing the book. But I'm someone who loves to write realistic books and not just fantasies.
I chose to write about rape and masturbation for so many reasons. Some being the societal stigma circulating rape victims, the effect of masturbation out there (which most people just do without knowing its effects). It took me a complete year to finish the book due to so many reasons--especially the research part."
When asked how she feels when her debut was finally published, she expressed that seeing her novel published, despite wanting to back down on various occasions, means nothing on earth is impossible.
"Yes, time without number. To be sincere! Sometimes, I do feel like I'm writing bullshits and nothing, I feel I'm just wasting my time chasing an empty dream.
However, when it was finally published I have no words to describe that feeling! It was something I never expected, I was so shocked myself."
She revealed that the philosophy behind Writing is to keep writing.
"Write, even if your pen doesn't want to write, write. For the more, you write the better you get.
Mrs. Fatima Alkali--my mum--told me this. She is my biggest motivator"
Murjanatu Alkali is a writer, a poet, an activist and an advocate of good governance.
From The Eyes of A Spinster is her first published book.
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